Sports

Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

Published

6 months ago

2023-12-04

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has resigned from the inter-governmental group planning the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, describing it as a “pointless talkfest” and a “dysfunctional farce.”

It is the first substantial divide for the organizers, whom the International Olympic Committee chose to host the 2032 Summer Olympics in 2021.

The so-called Leaders’ Forum, which includes officials from all three levels of government and various organizations, is intended to deliver the Olympics while leaving a legacy for Queensland. Its mandate is to collaborate with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Queensland state government to “progress the significant venues, villages, and transportation infrastructure” for the Games.

However, Schrinner claimed that the committee was meant to “place key stakeholders while the state government made all the real decisions behind closed doors.”

Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

“The truth is that we’ve always wanted to be team players. On Sunday, Schrinner stated, “The state government wanted to play politics.”

He advocated for creating an independent authority, similar to the one that oversaw preparations for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the London Olympics in 2012, to bring planning “back on track.”

“We don’t need overpriced stadiums, we need better transport,” Schrinner said. “This week it became very apparent that the Intergovernmental Leaders’ Forum is a dysfunctional farce.”

According to Schrinner, sports have become “more about overpriced stadiums.”
A $2.7 billion US makeover of the existing Gabba stadium in inner-city Brisbane, which would be dismantled and rebuilt, is intended to be the centerpiece of an Olympics with sites around southeast Queensland. However, Schrinner suggested that alternative options be investigated.

He was particularly critical of the state government’s proposals for Brisbane City Council to contribute $91 million to upgrade another local stadium, the RNA Showgrounds, to host cricket and Australian Rules football while the Gabba is redeveloped.

Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

A 20,000-person stadium will be built within the showgrounds for the next five years to house the Brisbane Lions AFL teams and the Brisbane Heat cricket club. Schrinner resigned in response to the state government’s request for a financial commitment from the city for a temporary cricket and AFL site.

“The state government’s game playing is jeopardizing the games and they are quickly losing the support of the people of Queensland,” Schrinner said in a statement. “It’s clear that the games have become more about overpriced stadiums rather than the promise of vital transport solutions.”

Queensland Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe expressed surprise at Schrinner’s decision to resign. If he chooses to return, a place will be reserved for him.

Queensland will have council elections in March of next year. Schrinner’s conservative Liberal National Party alliance and the opposition Australian Labor Party had previously backed the Gabba renovation.

Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

The Greens’ candidate for mayor of Brisbane, Jonathan Sriranganathan, has stated that if elected, his party would oppose the demolition and rebuilding of the Gabba. He called it a “deplorable waste of money” and a “bad deal for our city.”

SOURCE – (CBC)

Election News

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Published

3 hours ago

2024-05-19

Kiara Grace

AP News - VOR News Image

IMOLA, ITALY Max – Verstappen defeated McLaren’s Lando Norris to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, extending his Formula One championship lead.

Verstappen began on pole and led Norris from the start but was pushed by the McLaren driver near the end, winning by less than a second.

“I lost grip, especially in the closing 10 to 15 laps. I slid a lot. “I saw Lando closing in,” Verstappen explained. “It’s quite difficult when the tires are no longer working, and you have to run flat out, so I couldn’t afford to make too many mistakes. Thankfully, we didn’t, and we’re overjoyed to have won here today.”

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

It was the defending champion’s fifth victory in seven Grand Prix races this year, following Verstappen’s defeat by Norris in Miami two weeks ago.

Norris’ Second Place Sunday demonstrated the McLaren team’s credentials as the closest contender to Verstappen and Red Bull this season. “It hurts me to say it, but one or two more laps, I think I would have had him,” stated Norris. “It would have been beautiful, but just not today.”

Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, the Italian team’s first podium finish in Imola since 2006.

Overtaking is always challenging on the narrow Imola track, and this year, asphalt run-off zones on key corners were replaced with gravel traps, discouraging risk-taking even more.

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Leclerc got in on Norris midway through the race but made a mistake and ran across the grass, costing him time.

Oscar Piastri qualified second for McLaren but was relegated to fifth after a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in a Haas. He got ahead of Sainz during the pit stops and finished fourth, ahead of the Spanish driver.

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time champion, and his teammate George Russell finished sixth and seventh following a challenging weekend for Mercedes.

Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, began 11th following a mistake in qualifying and finished ninth. His major impact on the race came when he briefly held up Norris and Leclerc following their pit stops, thereby assisting Verstappen.

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Yuki Tsunoda took ninth place for RB, while Lance Stroll finished tenth for Aston Martin.

Verstappen has a 48-point advantage over Leclerc, who has surged ahead of Perez to second place.

SOURCE – (AP)

Sports

Seize The Gray Win the Preakness 2024, Mystik Dan Finished Second

Published

20 hours ago

2024-05-18

Geoff Thomas

Seize The Gray has won the Preakness 2024. Favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan finished second, halting his pursuit for the first Triple Crown since Justify in 2018, NBC Sports Reports.

Seize the Grey won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday, defeating Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and six other horses. Seize the Grey led from start to finish, with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in second place. Catching Freedom placed third.

D. Wayne Lukas, 88, becomes the oldest trainer in history to win a Triple Crown event. It marks his eighth Preakness victory in his career, tying Bob Baffert for second all-time. Lukas has won 15 Triple Crown races in his career.

Jaime Torres made a memorable Triple Crown debut with his triumph in Seize the Grey.

MyRacehorse owns Seize the Grey, and it sells thoroughbred “micro-shares” to the general public. There are 2,570 shareholders in Seize the Grey, representing 42 of the 50 states.

Seize the Grey is the Preakness’ 18th victory from the seventh post since 1909. No other post has resulted in more than 14 winners.

If Seize the Grey competes, his next race will be the 156th Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Preakness 2024 Full Race

Sports

Dallas Stars Eliminate Avalanche 2-1 With Double Overtime Win

Published

21 hours ago

2024-05-18

Geoff Thomas

Dallas Stars Eliminate Avalanche 2-1 With OT Win

The Avalanche’s aspirations of returning to the Stanley Cup were dashed late Friday night when they lost 2-1 in double overtime against the Dallas Stars.

Former Avalanche player Matt Duchene scored the game-winning goal, allowing the Dallas Stars to advance to the Western Conference final.

Duchene, who began his professional career in Denver, grabbed a loose puck in front of the net and blasted it over a sprawled-out Alexandar Georgiev. Duchene raced down the ice and sank to his knees in celebration.

Dallas Stars will play either Edmonton Oilers or the Vancouver Cunucks next. The Dallas Stars are making their second straight trip to the conference finals, having fallen to eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas last season. The Stars won their sole Stanley Cup championship in 1999.

This was a series in which the road team won five of six games, with the Stars winning all three in Denver. The Avalanche were the best home team throughout the regular season, while the Stars had the best away record.

After winning the Stanley Cup two years earlier, the Avalanche finished the season 50-25-7.